DAMAGE to overhead cables has led to all trains from Southend Victoria being cancelled.

All services between London Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria stations on the Greater Anglia line have been cancelled until midnight at the earliest as a result of the damage to cables at Rayleigh.

The damage is understood to have occurred when the low-hanging cables were caught by a passing train at 8.20am.

A rail replacement bus service will operate between Southend Victoria and Shenfield and between Southminster and Shenfield in both directions.

A Greater Anglia spokesman said Network Rail workmen were on site assessing the damage and apologised for the disruption.

He said: "Owing to damaged overhead power lines between Rayleigh and Wickford, there are delays and alterations to train services between Southend Victoria and Liverpool Street, and Southminster and Wickford.

"A half hourly service is now being introduced between London Liverpool Street and Wickford and a bus replacement service between Wickford and Southend Victoria.

"Further information and an update on resumption of normal services will be advised via our website and customer information systems as soon as further details are available.

"We would like to apologise to passengers for the inconvenience caused."